US4373502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel control system
Assignee: Miletech Inc
•
Filing: 1981-03-16
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Granted: 1983-02-15
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Expires: 2001-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A fuel control system for gasoline operated vehicles includes a metering device connected to the fuel line for controlling the rate of flow to the carburetor to permit a normal rate under ordinary driving conditions and an increased rate of flow under accelerated conditions with a filter being connected to the fuel line upstream from the metering device to prevent blockage of the main metering valve in the metering device and a second filter downstream from the metering device to act as a auxiliary reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Re
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:18
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M7/00; F02M7/06; F02M7/12; F02M7/133; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
In a fuel control system for gasoline-operated motor vehicles having a main storage tank and a fuel pump connected in the fuel line between the main storage tank and the float bowl of a carburetor for feeding gasoline to the carburetor, the improvement being a control system mounted to said fuel line between said fuel pump and said carburetor whereby said control system is adapted to be installed into already existing systems of motor vehicles, said control system including an operating tank mounted to said fuel line downstream from and in flow communication with said main storage tank, vent means for said operating tank, metering means in said fuel line downstream from said operating tank for controlling the rate of fuel flowing to said carburetor, said metering means including a main valve for providing a fixed rate of flow to said carburetor and a selectively operated by-pass valve for providing an increased rate of flow to said carburetor, said main valve and said by-pass valve being mounted in a common housing, said common housing having an upstream inlet line and a downstream outlet line, connecting means connecting said inlet line to an upstream portion of said fuel line between said fuel pump and said housing, and connecting means connecting said outlet line to a downstream portion of said fuel line between said housing and said carburetor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a fuel control system for gasoline-operated motor vehicles having a main storage tank and a fuel pump connected in the fuel line between the main storage tank and the float bowl of a carburetor for feeding gasoline to the carburetor, the improvement being a control system mounted to said fuel line between said fuel pump and said carburetor whereby said control system is adapted to be installed into already existing systems of motor vehicles, said control system including an operating tank mounted to said fuel line downstream from and in flow communication with said main storage tank, vent means for said operating tank, metering means in said fuel line downstream from said operating tank for controlling the rate of fuel flowing to said carburetor, said metering means including a main valve for providing a fixed rate of flow to said carburetor and a selectively operated by-pass valve for providing an increased rate of flow to said carburetor, said main valve and said by-pass valve being mounted in a common housing, said common housing having an upstream inlet line and a downstream outlet line, connecting means connecting said inlet line to an upstream portion of said fuel line between said fuel pump and said housing, and connecting means connecting said outlet line to a downstream portion of said fuel line between said housing and said carburetor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said main valve is adjustable for adjusting said fixed rate of flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 including operator actuating means connected to said by-pass valve whereby the vehicle operator may actuate the opening of said by-pass valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said actuating means comprises electrical control means connected to said by-pass valve and actuated by the depression of the vehicle gasoline pedal to a predetermined position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said main valve is adjustable for adjusting said fixed rate of flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said main valve is a needle valve, and said by-pass valve being a solenoid valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 6 wherein a second fuel pump is mounted between said main storage tank and said operating tank for feeding fuel from said main storage tank to said operating tank, said operating tank being a flat elongated tank of substantially lesser capacity than the capacity of said main storage tank, a protective skid plate being mounted under said operating tank, and vent means for said storage tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said solenoid valve is normally in an open position and moves to its closed position upon the turning on of the ignition, and a sensor in said operating tank for actuating said second fuel pump when the fuel level in said operating tank drops to a predetermined level to feed fuel from said main storage tank to said operating tank.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of modifying an existing fuel system of a motor vehicle having a main storage tank and an operating tank in flow communication by means of a fuel line to the float bowl of a carburetor comprising mounting a metering device including a main valve and a by-pass valve to the fuel line downstream from the operating tank, the metering device having a common housing for the main valve and the by-pass valve with the common housing having an upstream inlet line and a downstream outlet line, connecting the inlet line to an upstream portion of the fuel line between the fuel pump and the housing, connecting the outlet line to a downstream portion of the fuel line between the housing and the carburetor, providing a fixed rate of flow through the main valve to the carburetor and selectively providing an increased rate of flow from the by-pass valve under acceleration conditions to the carburetor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of modifying an existing fuel system of a motor vehicle having a main storage tank and an operating tank in flow communication by means of a fuel line to the float bowl of a carburetor comprising mounting a metering device including a main valve and a by-pass valve to the fuel line downstream from the operating tank, the metering device having a common housing for the main valve and the by-pass valve with the common housing having an upstream inlet line and a downstream outlet line, connecting the inlet line to an upstream portion of the fuel line between the fuel pump and the housing, connecting the outlet line to a downstream portion of the fuel line between the housing and the carburetor, providing a fixed rate of flow through the main valve to the carburetor and selectively providing an increased rate of flow from the by-pass valve under acceleration conditions to the carburetor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the by-pass valve is a solenoid valve and including the step of electrically connecting the solenoid valve to an actuator disposed in the path of motion of the gasoline pedal for actuating the solenoid valve when the gasoline pedal is depressed to a predetermined position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the main valve is adjustable and including the step of setting the adjustment of the main valve to set the fixed flow rate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the solenoid valve is normally in an open position and including the step of closing the solenoid valve upon turning on the ignition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 including mounting a vented operating tank to the fuel line downstream from and in flow communication with the main storage tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the main storage tank is connected by a secondary flow line to an emission filter and including the step of venting the main storage tank by disconnecting the secondary flow line from the emission filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the operating tank is of substantially lesser capacity than the main storage tank and including the steps of mounting a second fuel pump between the main storage tank and the operating tank, and actuating the second fuel pump by sensing when the fuel has dropped to a predetermined level in the operating tank to feed additional fuel from the main storage tank to the operating tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 including mounting a protective skid plate under the operating tank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-14 | 1986-08-16 | 1987-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-14 | 1990-08-16 | 1991-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-14 | 1994-08-16 | 1995-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |